Chum Salmon Fishing Guide

Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) have the widest geographic distribution of any Pacific salmon species and the longest river penetration of any, traveling over 2,000 miles up the Yukon River. The nickname 'dog salmon' reflects their traditional importance as winter food for sled dogs in Alaska — ironically, ocean-bright chum are among the best-eating salmon when caught fresh. Male chum develop dramatic calico markings of purple, green, and black bars during the spawning migration, along with large canine-like teeth that give them another common name: 'dog salmon.' Chum roe is highly prized in Japan as 'ikura' and commands premium prices — it represents a significant part of the Pacific salmon roe export market. Great efforts have been made in Japan, where chum are the primary salmon species, to develop hatchery enhancement programs that now return over 50 million fish annually.

Chum Salmon is a freshwater and saltwater species.

Habitat

Pacific coast streams from California to Alaska and throughout Asia; uniquely, some populations spawn directly in intertidal zones influenced by groundwater upwelling. Often the first salmon to use streams closest to the ocean, occupying habitat that other salmon species bypass.

Diet

Ocean chum feed on euphausiid krill, amphipods, squid, and small fish. Like all Pacific salmon, they do not feed in freshwater and are caught on lures by triggering aggression — bright, flashy lures and spinners are most effective.

Fishing Techniques

• Spoons in chartreuse or pink
• Fly fishing with large wet flies
• Pink worms on float rigs

Best Seasons

Fall

Size & Records

Average weight: 10 lbs. World record: 35 lbs (Edye Pass, British Columbia, Canada (1995)).